Rider Files

Martyn Harding strikes again with a pair of amazing programs he collected when he was a teenager traveling to Europe with his father. Check out this summer vacation story, Martyn writes:

“I read your article on Freddie and the NR500 with great interest. I was at Silverstone with my dad in 1979 for the bike’s debut and although I was only 14 at the time, I remember how big of a deal it was that Honda was coming back. Although there is no mention of the bike in the program, there was a lot of talk in the press leading up to the race. Compared to the RGs and TZs, the bike for the movie Silver Dream Racer (they were filming during the race weekend) looked futuristic but the Honda was super trick with engineering solutions not seen before and a unique sound from the oval piston four-stroke. The NR wasn’t the only four-stroke heard that weekend as Hailwood and Ago did some demonstration laps on MVs.

On the same trip to Europe we attended the Match races at Donnington (Aldana fell off right in front of us), the British round of the Motocross series and the for the car side, the Brands Hatch 6 hour sports car race and the Italian Grand Prix F1 race.

Ah the memories…”

I’d say Martyn won the “What I did this summer” competition of 1979.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — American Motorcyclist Association members in the Lone Star state will battle through a full district qualifier format over the next three months, vying for a spot on the motocross starting gate at the Texas AMA District State Final on Nov. 17-18 at Buffalo Creek MX Park in Canton, Texas.

“Texas boasts some of America’s finest tracks and fastest racers, and this fall those racers will go head to head to determine the best in each class,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley.

Now in its second year, the Texas AMA District State Final will take place at Buffalo Creek MX Park, about 40 miles east of Dallas. The Texas AMA District State Final will host riders who qualified through AMA District Championship Series in District 41 (Northeast Texas), District 20 (Southeast Texas) and District 42 (West Texas). More information is available at www.buffalocreekmx.com.

“We are very excited about AMA District racing being established in Texas,” said Russell Hobbs, AMA-chartered promoter, Buffalo Creek MX owner and AMA District 41 Congressman. “In 2011, the series’ first year, the great turnouts with full gates proved that Texas motocross racers are happy to finally have a series to qualify and compete against riders from other districts. This year, all the promoters involved are committed to seeing growth in AMA-sanctioned competition in Texas. The AMA has been very supportive in this process.”

The full district qualifier schedule is below.

Texas AMA District State Final
Nov. 17-18: Buffalo Creek MX Park, Canton, Texas. www.buffalocreekmx.com

AMA District 20 Championship Series:
Round 1: Aug. 11: 3 Palms MX Park, Conroe, Texas
Round 2: Aug. 25: Cowboy Badlands, Beaumont, Texas
Round 3: Sept. 9: Ultimate MX, Alvin, Texas
Round 4: Sept. 23: Cycle Ranch MX Park, Floresville, Texas
Round 5: Sept. 30: Rio Bravo MX Park, Houston, Texas
Round 6: Oct. 14: 3 Palms MX Park (GP Track), Conroe, Texas

AMA District 41 Championship Series:
Round 1: Sept. 2: Underground MX, Kemp, Texas
Round 2: Sept. 9: River Valley MX, Boyd, Texas
Round 3: Sept. 23: Village Creek, Ft. Worth, Texas
Round 4: Sept. 30: Buffalo Creek, Canton, Texas (includes AMA Pro-AM)
Round 5: Oct. 21: North 40 Cycle Park, Sherman, Texas
Round 6: Oct. 28: Johnsonville MX, Yantis, Texas

AMA District 42 Championship Series:
Round 1: Sept. 16: Lefors MX, Lefors, Texas
Round 2: Nov. 4: Bowers MX, Amarillo, Texas

For more information about AMA-sanctioned competition events, see www.amaracing.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Motorcyclepedia Museum will give you your nostalgia fix with Kaizen, the first exhibit in America dedicated exclusively to classic Japanese motorcycles.

Remember those early Japanese bikes that tripped your teenage trigger?  The ones that put so many of us on the motorcycle road for the rest of our lives?  What did you really want, that motorcycle, or the attention it would get you?  It didn’t matter, were both good.  Impressing the girl, feeling the wind, making memories.

Some of us didn’t stay on the motorcycle road.  We left to get an education, defend the country, get married, raise kids, pursue a career, whatever.  Many of us returned later, when we had more time, more money, and usually a larger belt size, answering the pangs of nostalgia.

And some of us didn’t return, but really wish we had.  

Don’t worry, the Motorcyclepedia Museum will give you your nostalgia fix with Kaizen, the first exhibit in America dedicated exclusively to classic Japanese motorcycles.   “Kaizen” is a Japanese word that means “beneficial change.”  It is also the business philosophy of constant incremental improvement that enabled the Japanese to revolutionize the world motorcycle market.

So join us, as we travel back to see the bikes you had and the ones you wish you had; the ones that gave you memories of a lifetime.  Kaizen opens September 7, 2012. For times, directions, and more information, go to motorcyclepediamuseum.org/.

Kaizen is a creation of the Antique Motorcycle Foundation.  For more information, click www.antiquemotorcyclefoundation.org.

Louisville, Kentucky native Kurt Hall celebrates his victory in the 1991 Suzuki GSXR1100 Cup Final over two West Coast riders, runner up Dave Deveau (right) from Sebastopol, California, and Joe Pittman (left) of Bellevue, Washington. Hall pretty much controlled the 1100 race from the start, but it was a battle to the checkered flag for the rest of the podium with Deveau, Pittman and Tripp Nobles trading spots numerous times on the final two laps with Deveau coming out on top in the end. It turned out to be a lucrative weekend for Hall, who also finished second in the GSXR750 final.

Louisville, Kentucky native Kurt Hall celebrates his victory in the 1991 Suzuki GSXR1100 Cup Final over two West Coast riders, runner up Dave Deveau (right) from Sebastopol, California, and Joe Pittman (left) of Bellevue, Washington. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(NEWS RELEASE)

M1 PowerSports has named Dion Device as the Official Brake Guard of the 2012 Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince.

DENVER, Colo. (August 7, 2012) – M1 PowerSports has named Dion Device as the Official Brake Guard of the 2012 Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince. The brake guard company will have an at-track display and sales team on hand at the September 21 – 23 Triumph Big Kahuna Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the October 5 – 7 Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans at NOLA Motorsports Park. Dion Device’s Chris Killen will also be generating video teasers featuring M1 PowerSports-sponsored riders leading up to the events. The videos will promote the events, and provide hints about how to gain access to coupon codes for merchandise and tickets.

“We’re super honored that this has been able to work out,” said Chris Killen, Owner of Dion Device. “We are very excited to be a part of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing paddock in general, but the M1 PowerSports events in particular have a different sort of feel and coolness factor and that’s something that we wanted to be a part of. We’re looking forward to helping M1 get butts in seats and grow the events.”

The Dion Device is an aftermarket safety component that mounts to a motorcycle’s handlebar, designed to prevent accidents caused by the unintentional engaging of the front brake. In the event of a crash, the device also provides added protection for the brake lever and fuel tank. The Dion Device is made of aluminum and is very lightweight, weighing in at just 6.35 ounces, and is currently in use by many professional riders in the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing paddock.

“The Dion Device is a life-saving product and every single bike should have one,” said Cameron Gray, CEO of M1 PowerSports. “Chris Killen is an extremely hard working and creative individual and will be a huge asset to the M1 PowerSports team as we build up the hype around the last two rounds of the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown.”

The new deal between M1 PowerSports and Dion Device provides for Dion Device to have at-track signage, PA announcements, hospitality options and videos about the product played on the JumboTrons. M1 PowerSports will get weekly videos featuring M1 riders Danny Eslick, Cory West, Colter Dimick and RoadRace Factory/Red Bull riders J.D. Beach, Jake Gagne, Hayden Gillim and Tomas Puerta.

The benefits don’t just stop at marketing opportunities for the two companies; the fans can get in on the action too. Every fan that shows up to the event with a Dion Device installed on their motorcycle will get a free fan lap. Anyone looking to learn more about the products can check them out at the Dion Device booth in the vendor area or paddock, and will also have a chance to get their hands on one through giveaways at fan parties.

There are two rounds of the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown remaining in 2012. For tickets and information about the Triumph Big Kahuna Miami, scheduled for September 21 – 23, 2012 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-miami/. For tickets and information about the Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans, scheduled for October 5 – 7, 2012 as the first professional motorsports event at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-new-orleans/.

About Dion Device: Dion Device is a rider protection company started in Quebec Canada. The creator Stephane Dion was on a mission when he developed the Dion Device. He not only wanted to make a great product, he needed to fulfill a promise he made to his close personal friend Michele Mercier. In 2005 Max Mercier (son of Michele Mercier) crashes in Snannonville and is killed. Stephane makes a solemn promise to Michele to stop the madness and begins developing the Max Guard. For the next year, Stephane endured many sleepless nights in pursuit of a remedy to brake lever related accidents as his own son, 16 year old Jeffrey Dion, who was/is an active road racer. Finally, after three years of prototypes, design improvement and various developments the Max Guard (original name) became a reality. Stephane filed his patent and made 5 working Max Guard samples hoping to get them on a high profile rider’s bike. It was around this time Ken Baker and Chris Killen, friends and colleagues of Stephane, came on board to help get his device on a race bike and to help get the device available to any rider who wants to avoid accidental brake lever incidents. For more information, please visit http://www.diondevice.com.

About M1 PowerSports, formerly M1 Entertainment: A Denver-based company, M1 PowerSports has been working in motorsports for over 16 years. Originally spawned from Daniels Corporation under the name FAST, the fledgling company was heavily involved in television production for car and motorcycle racing. With the birth of Speedvision, FAST morphed into Race Promotion Management (RPM) and is now operating as M1 PowerSports with many of the same staff still in place. We still sell advertising for Speed, sell merchandise under the brand Moto 1 and promote our own events, keeping us busy year-round! For more information, please call 303-377-3278 or email info@m1powersports.com.

Dale Burroughs wheelies the Po’ Folks Kawasaki out of turn one of Mid-America Raceway during a WERA National Endurance race in July of 1984. Team Po’ Folks was a leading WERA and AMA/CCS National Endurance team in 1984. Burroughs and Bill Trowbridge were the main riders for the squad, who had sponsorship from Po’ Folks Restaurants, a thriving chain in the early-to-mid 1980s. Note the grass growing up through the cracks in the track. By the mid-1980s Mid-America was in its final days.

Dale Burroughs wheelies the Po’ Folks Kawasaki out of turn one of Mid-America Raceway during a WERA National Endurance race in July of 1984. Team Po’ Folks was a leading WERA and AMA/CCS National Endurance team in 1984. (Larry Lawrence photo)